Malika Oufkir, Michele Fitousi La Prisonniere

Malika Oufkir, Michele Fitousi La Prisonniere is not one to shrug off lightly. It is an amazing tale of survival, and strength. It is utterly fascinating that all of this was happening in our world, not a thousand years ago, not one hundred, but 1972 till 1996. It really opens our eyes to a new part of our world, hidden from us.

The way this book is written is beautiful. It is simple and subtle as not to draw attention from the bewildering story to the actual literature.

It is a struggle to put down once you get started, although I found the first few chapters a bit long and drawn out. Once I finished the novel however, I realised how critical these first chapters of introduction to her life was. She was imprissoned her whole life, firstly being protected, then being abussed.

I was amazed, shocked and so proud of such family. One can not fathom the horror and tragedy that some people survive in this world. The Book is extremely touching, interesting and moving. I couldn't stop talking about her story after I have finished reading the book.

La Prisonniere by Malika Oufkir and Michelle Fitousi is a wonderful story. Excellent writing style. The details are very vivid and the story is incredible.

'La Prisonniere'was one of those 'you just can't put down' sort of books.

It lifted the veil literally on another world to anyone who had been brought up in relative freedom and in normal circumstances.

Malika the child of a fairly happy marriage lived in style and opulence with her parents close to the court of the King of Morocco.

Aged 8 she came to the attention of the King and was literally whisked away behind closed doors to be brought up as the playmate of the King's daughter. The King treated Malika like her his own daughter and they were indulged and spoiled-but she yearned to be with her own parents and siblings. She felt isolated at the palace and different when she went home for visits.

Then her father, General Oufkir was involved in a coup against the King and the whole family's fortunes changed overnight. The book's biggest weakness was that it did not go into great detail just what exactly happened all we learned that the General was executed and the whole family including Malika were rounded up and transported from one place to another until they finally spent over 20 years in primitive conditions in a jail in the desert.

Treated like sub humans and hated by their captors-the family did everything they could to ensure their survival-but conditions were harsh and tough.

They were segregated, given bad food, beaten-but from her early year's at the palace-Malika's strength and inventiveness pulled them through.

She told them stories, put on plays, encouraged them and then devised a way to escape which involved her and three siblings literally clawing a tunnel to freedom with their bare hands.

A nail biting several days passed before they got the help they needed-which at any time the reader felt that they would be discovered and incarcerated again until finally they were re-united and given a home, food, clothes-but this was to be a gilded cage and it was several years more before they were allowed passports and to travel freely.

By the time Malika 'escaped' to France she was 40 years old and had had to relinquish her youth.

The book ends with her falling in love and marrying a truly kind frenchman-but rather wistfully there is no mention of children.

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